With dense forests, sandy beaches and shallow wetlands, Southeast Texas is overflowing with outdoor recreation. Enjoy local botanical gardens and city parks or find adventure in the many hiking & biking locales that abound in Southeast Texas, such as the Big Thicket National Preserve.

If you're an avid birder, or simply a beginner looking to get started, you've come to the right place! Beaumont, Texas is located near the Gulf of Mexico, known for its globally unique ecosystem with a diversity of habitats, fish and wildlife.

While there are plenty of places around town to bring along the crew, finding a family friendly place just makes things go so much better. These places in Beaumont are not just thinking about the food, they are thinking about kids and families too!

The Official Southeast Texas Visitors Guide is devoted to the area's must-see attractions, best dining, shopping and outdoor activities. The annually produced guide includes hotel listings and easy-to-read maps making it the ultimate resource for visitors looking for an authentic southeast Texas experience.

Beaumont is a fun-loving city that hangs its hat in Southeast Texas, just minutes from the Louisiana border and the Gulf of Mexico. If you're looking for inspiration to plan your visit, start with our Top 10 Reasons to Visit below.

Located an hour and a half east of Houston, near the border of Louisiana, Beaumont, Texas is like no other place on earth. It's where the Gulf meets the marsh, saltwater meets fresh and Texas hospitality meets Cajun joi de vivre (joy of living).

O.A. Bum Phillips

Football

Coach O.A. "Bum" Phillips was born September 29, 1923 in Orange, Texas, attended high school in Beaumont and played football at Lamar Junior College (now Lamar University). He enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor plunged the United States into World War II.

After returning from war, Phillips enrolled at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, lettering in football in 1948 and 1949 and graduating with a degree in Education in 1949. Bum got his nickname when his little sister's attempts to say "brother" came out "bumble" and later "bum." Bum's coaching career began on the high school level. He had positions at Nederland, Port Neches, Amarillo and Jacksonville. While at Nederland, Phillips took the Bulldogs to the state playoffs in 1955.

His college coaching stints included working as an assistant coach at Texas A&M University under Paul "Bear" Bryant, the University of Houston with Bill Yeoman, Southern Methodist under Hayden Fry, the University of Texas-El Paso and Oklahoma State University. Phillips then moved on to the National Football League, working as an assistant defensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers under Coach Sid Gillman. When Gillman was named head coach of the Houston Oilers, he took Bum with him as defensive coordinator. The team had just suffered through consecutive 1-13 seasons, but Bum created a defense that turned the team around. They finished the first season 7-7, garnering more victories than the previous three Oiler teams combined.

In 1975, Bum was named head coach and general manger of the Oilers. The team went 10-4, defeating every team on their schedule except Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Phillips served as the Oilers' head coach through 1980 and was the winningest coach in franchise history with a 53-35 record. He became head coach for the New Orleans Saints in 1981-1985 before retiring to his horse ranch in Goliad, Texas.